Being accused of a crime that you not even understand can be very devastating especially when you do not know where to start from. When people get accused or arrested for crimes, they panic and may even say things that might complicate their case. That is why it is advisable to remain silent to avoid making your case worse. The first thing you should do is to talk to a lawyer to guide you on what to do since they know all the court processes. JJ lawyers are among the best criminal lawyers that can handle your case and help you get the justice you deserve. Here are the legal processes of a general criminal case.
Being Arrested
Most people realize they are being accused only after being issued with an arrest warrant. The police officers may arrest you when they spot that the person is committing or has committed an offence against the law. They later book the suspect and pace them in custody. If the person’s crime is a minor offence, the policy issues a citation to the suspect to appear to court at a later date. However, it the offence is major, the accused person is heavily guarded in the police custody and the date to report to court may be set immediately.
Posting Bail
Depending on the intensity of the case you may or may not be allowed to post a bail. The suspects are only released on bail after promising they will appear in court hearing. There are also some rules set to ensure that you keep your promise of appearing to court such as supervision. However, you need your lawyer to help you in posting the bail and also to ensure that keep the promise. The bail may either be granted immediately after booking or at a later date after review hearing. In the case where the bail is denied, you will be kept in custody until the trial or further court order.
Court Attendance
This is a mandatory stage for any criminal case. Failing to attend the court on your hearing date can make your case worse. This is where the judge reads your charges and gives you the chance to either accept or deny the charges. Accepting means you are guilty and a sentence is passed. Denying means you not guilty. The case continues and the bail is also reviewed and the dates for future proceedings are set. However, bail can only be allowed if the court determines that you are not at risk.
Trial and Sentence
Every person has the right to be tried and sentenced fairly according to the law. That is why a judge passes you through a trial to determine you innocence or guiltiness. He or she uses the testimonies from the witnesses to make the judgment. If not guilty, the defendant is released. The guilty defendants are sentenced appropriately. The judge sentences an individual based on their crime history, severity of the crime or the circumstances that led to the crime. The convicted defendant is allowed to make an appeal if not satisfied with the verdict.
Criminal cases are a scare to many. Individuals panic after being charged with a criminal case since most don’t know what to do. Be on the guard by hiring a qualified attorney to help you receive a fair treatment. Understand all the stages of a criminal case to avoid being in the dark when you find yourself in such situations.
